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BANCROFT 

LIBRARY 
<• 

THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


— OF    THE— 


HONDURAS 


^a  S 


OK    CAL.IKORNIA. 

OFFICE:  23  KEARNY  STREET,  ROOM  10,  SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL 

WM.    K.    MORRISON,    M.  EX,    Secretary. 

OFFICE  HOURS,   FROM   II  A.  M.  TO  3  P.  M. 


PROSPKCTUS 


— OF    THE — 


HONDURAS  COLONIZATION 


COMMERCIAL  CO. 

INCORPORATED  DECEMBER  3,  1883. 
Capital,  $1,000,000.        ,1OO,OOO  Shares 

at  paz-  Dalu-c-  o|  $10. 


23  KEARNY  STREET,  SAN  FRANCISCO. 

\VNt.    K.   1MORRISON,    Nl.  D.,    Secretary. 

OFFICE  HOURS,  FROM  II  A.  M.  TO  3  P.  M. 
1883. 


HONDURAS 

COLONIZATION  §  COMMERCIAL  COMPANY. 

—OF— 

CALIFORNIA,  U.  S.  A. 


OFFICERS: 

FEEDEBICK  GETCHELL,  President. 

FEANK  A.  WECK,  Vice  President. 

WM.  F.  MOEEISON,  Secretary. 

FEEDEEICK  HILLEE,  JB.,  Treasurer. 

OEMOND  W.  FOLLEN,       -       -       General  Manager  in  Honduras. 
F.  T.  NEWBEBY,        -       Engineer  and  Land  Agent  in  Honduras 

DIEECTOES. 

O.   W.  FOLLIN,  WM.  F.  MOEEISON,         FEED  GETCHELL, 

FEED.  HILLEE,  JE.          F.  T.  NEWBEBY,  FEANK  A.  WECK. 

JOHN  C.  GOEE. 


UBRARY 


PROSPECTUS 


The  Republic  of  Honduras  is  situated  in  Central  America,  is 
bounded  on  the  south  by  the  State  of  Nicaragua,  on  the  northwest 
by  the  States  of  San  Salvador  and  Guatemala.  The  chief  port  on 
the  Pacific  is  Fonseca  Bay,  one  of  the  finest  harbors  of  the  world. 
The  Government  is  very  liberal  in  its  home  and  foreign  policy,  and 
is  extremely  anxious  to  encourage  the  introduction  of  desirable 
immigrants.  To  this  end  they  have  granted  a  concession  to  the 
Honduras  Colonization  and  Commercial  Company  covering  500,000 
acres  of  land,  having  frontage  on  the  Bay  of  Fonseca,  the  company 
to  be  entirely  unfettered  and  to  have  free  choice  in  the  location  of 
their  grant.  This  is  one  of  the  most  liberal  grants  of  really  first- 
class  land  immediately  accessible  to  the  commerce  of  the  world, 
which  has  ever  been  made  by  any  Government  of  modern  times,  no 
expensive  railroads  being  required  to  meet  the  wants  of  the  agri- 
culturists, and  to  absorb  the  fruit  of  his  industry. 

Besides  having  a  large  frontage  on  this  beautiful,  commodious  and 
safe  harbor,  there  are  rivers  and  estuaries  providing, scores  of  miles 
of  inland  navigation,  and  passing  through  rich  alluvial  lands  more 
or  less  covered  with  Mahogany,  Cedar,  Lignum-vitce ,  Santa  Maria, 
Sumwood,  Sapodilla,  Ironwood,  Live  Oak-,  Pine,  etc.,  etc. 

The  valleys  are  broad  and  fertile,  having  abundance  of  grass 
which  support  large  herds  of  cattle,  which  constitutes  the  chief 
wealth  of  the  people  of  the  country.  Cows  and  working  oxen  may 
be  purchased  for  $8  per  head.  Mules  are  also  very  numerous  and 
cheap.  Pigs  and  fowls  may  be  said  to  be  self-supporting. 

IMRAY'S  "WEST  COAST  or  NORTH  AMERICA"  SAYS: — 

"So  abundant  are  the  necessaries  of  life  that  none  need  want; 
so  profuse  are  the  bounties  of  nature  that  they  are  suffered  to  decay 
through  neglect;  the  peach  tree  and  the  rose  bush  run  wild  on  the 
borders  of  the  orange  grove,  whose  fruits  and  flowers  are  alike  sim- 
ultaneous and  perennial,  and  the  pine  apple,  the  mango  and  the 


4:  THE    HONDURAS    COLONIZATION 

melon  are  preferred  to  the  almond,  the  olive  and  the  grape.  Such 
is  the  nature  of  the  soil  and  the  exuberance  of  that  wealth  which 
rots  upon  its  surface,  that  it  would  amply  clothe  and  satisfy  with 
bread  thousands  of  the  sons  of  toil  who  fill  our  streets,  dispelling 
that  squalor  and  wretchedness  which  penury  and  destitution  have 
produced,  and  mitigating  the  woes  which  embitter  the  lot  of  so 
many  of  our  fellow  countrymen.  It  may  be  that  the  time  is  not 
far  distant  when  many  such  will  seek  these  fertile  shores,  and  under 
wise  direction  not  only  benefit  themselves,  but  while  redeeming  fer- 
tile valleys  and  plains  from  desolation,  greatly  bless  the  timid  nat- 
ives with  the  higher  arts  of  life." 

And  now,  in  this  garden  spot  of  the  world,  these  almost  proph- 
etic words  are  about  to  be  accomplished,  indeed.  With  two  hundred 
acres  of  such  land  as  cannot  be  excelled  in  the  whole  of  the  United 
States,  and  unlimited  grazing  rights  over  the  unoccupied  lands  of 
the  company  free  of  charge,  what  has  a  family  to  fear  ?  The  com- 
pany, like  a  wise  foster  parent  purchases  the  produce  of  every  kind, 
prepares  and  fits  it  for  market,  exports  the  same  in  its  own  vessels, 
bringing  in  return  gold  and  stores  of  all  kinds,  and  sharing  the 
profits  with  all  in  proportion  to  the  interest  each  may  have  in  the 
company.  And  further,  what  need  for  exhaustive  toil  on  the  part 
of  the  colonists  when  plenty  of  good  labor  is  available  at  from 
twenty-five  to  fifty  cents  per  diem,  and  for  house  servants,  four 
dollars  per  month;  and  as  regards  cheapness  of  living,  when  the 
products  of  all  countries  are  admitted  to  the  warehouses  of  the  com- 
pany free  of  duty  for  fifteen  years,  it  can  be  safely  said  that  one 
dollar  will  have  more  purchasing  power  in  this  colony  in  Honduras 
than  two  dollars  in  San  Francisco. 

CLIMATE. 

The  climate  of  the  country  varies  with  its  varying  elevations  and 
exposures  to  the  trade  and  other  prevailing  winds.  The  land  rises 
from  the  coast  by  a  series  of  terraces,  ranging  from  one  to  six 
thousand  feet  in  altitude,  with  every  grade  of  temperature,  from 
tropical  heats  to  that  of  eternal  spring,  and  with  every  variety  of 
production  of  which  the  globe  is  capable.  One  may  ride  for  miles 
on  the  high  plains  of  the  interior,  among  oaks  and  pines,  with 
myriads  of  bushes  of  the  familiar  blackberry  of  New  England  lining 


AND    COMMERCIAL    COMPANY.  5 

his  path,  and  through  fields  golden  with  wheat  and  orchards  of  the 
apple  and  peach.  In  many  places  the  palm  and  pine  nourish  side 
by  side. 

The  temperature  in  the  hottest  parts  of  the  lowlands  bordering 
on  the  bay  is  nowhere  as  high  as  in  the  State  of  New  York  during 
the  summer  months.  It  is  rather  equable  than  high,  and  there 
are  few  places  where  a  good  thick  blanket  is  not  a  requisite  to  com- 
fort at  night. 

On  the  lowlands  bordering  on  the  bay  the  temperature  ranges 
from  70°  to  106°,  and  the  heat  in  summer  on  the  bay  not  being 
nearly  so  oppressive  as  the  heat  in  New  York  City,  and  far  superior 
to  New  Orleans.  Residents  on  the  uplands  of  the  company  will  find 
an  agreeable  temperature,  ranging  from  60°  minimum  to  84°  maxi- 
mum, the  nights  invariably  cooler  than  the  evenings. 

At  an  elevation  of  1200  feet  above  the  sea,  on  the  hills  north  of 
the  bay,  are  splendid  forests  of  pitch  pine,  for  which  a  good  market 
will  be  found  at  Panama,  600  miles  distant. 

SALUBRITY  OF  THE  CLIMATE. 

All  testimony  on  the  subject  concurs  as  to  the  undeniable  salu- 
brity of  the  central  portions  of  Honduras,  and  it  is  a  known  fact 
that  the  north  coast  of  Honduras,  owing  to  the  proximity  of  high 
mountains  and  the  ventilation  which  it  receives  from  the  trade 
winds,  is  far  more  salubrious  than  any  portion  of  the  United  States 
bordering  on  the  gulf;  but  is  not  to  be  compared  to  the  climate  on 
the  Pacific  side,  where  the  lands  of  the  HONDURAS  COLONIZATION  AND 
COMMERCIAL  COMPANY  are  located. 

There  are  no  swamps  or  malaria,  and,  on  the  authority  of  an  Eng- 
lish gentleman  nearly  thirty  years  a  resident  near  the  Company's 
grant,  it  is  affirmed  that  there  are  no  diseases  or  disorders  peculiar 
to  the  place. 

Unlike  many  parts  of  the  United  States  fevers  of  a  severe  type  do 
not  exist.  Yellow  fever  has  never  been  known  in  the  interior  or 
on  the  Pacific  side. 

Pulmonary  complaints  are  unknown.  This  colony  is  destined  in 
the  near  future  to  become  the  great  sanitarium  for  those  suffering 
from  pulmonary  complaints.  This  class  of  diseases  in  the  United 
States  and  England  carries  off  fully  one-third  of  their  population,  a 


G  THE    HONDURAS    COLONIZATION 

natural  result  in  countries  where  the  range  of  the  thermometer  in  a 
single  day  is  often  greater  than  in  Honduras  for  the  entire  year. 
"  Central  Honduras  is  blessed  with  a  climate  as  mellow,  delightful 
and  lovely  as  Italy's.  The  flora  is  magnificent  and  immensely 
varied.  The  botanical  riches  surpass  those  of  any  other  land  on 
earth." 

SOIL. 

The  topography  of  Honduras  is  wonderfully  diversified,  and  it 
has  every  conceivable  variety  of  soil,  most  of  it  is  a  deep,  inexhaust- 
ible, rich,  black  loam,  capable  of  producing  the  finest  crops.  The 
company's  lands,  which  are  well  watered,  are  relatively  open  or 
covered  with  oaks  and  pines,  with  many  broad  savannas,  or  prairies 
covered  with  grass. 

Irrigation  is  unnecessary,  the  average  rainfall  being  forty-five 
inches  per  annum,  and  droughts  are  unknown.  It  is  rare  to  wit- 
ness an  entire  day's  rain  during  the  rainy  season,  as  it  falls  mostly 
at  night.  The  rainy  season  is  from  June  to  October. 

MINES. 

On  the  La  Patarique  Mountains  have  been  discovered  the  rich- 
est silver  mines  in  Central  America.  These  mines  are  worked  in 
the  most  primitive  methods  known;  no  hoisting  or  pumping  ma- 
chinery, no  timbering,  except  what  can  be  comfortably  carried  into 
the  mines  on  a  man's  back,  and  abandonment  certain  when  the  work- 
ings caved  badly,  which  sometimes  happen.  These  mines,  how- 
ever, have  produced  all  the  way  up  to  $2,000  to  the  ton  of  ore. 

We  can  also  tell  of  gold  placers,  good  copper  mines,  iron  mount- 
ains producing  ore  from  which  bar-iron  may  be  hammered  at  the 
blacksmith  forge.  Nearly  all  of  these  mines  are  situated  within 
forty  miles  of  the  Bay  of  Fonseca. 

Coal  mines  have  also  been  reported,  but  of  which  nothing  definite 
can  be  said  at  the  present  time.  If  such  mines  exist,  and  are  found 
conveniently  situated,  of  fair  quality  and  extent,  they  will  prove  a 
very  valuable  and  immediate  source  of  wealth;  definite  statements 
are  on  record  of  their  discovery,  but  the  incentive  to  their  develop- 
ment has  hitherto  been  wanting. 


AND    COMMERCIAL    COMPANY.  7 

LANDS    OF    THE    COMPANY. 

The  lands  of  the  company  are  chiefly  situated  in  the  department 
of  Choluteca,  the  'chief  port  on  the  bay  being  San  Lorenzo,  and  com- 
prise more  agricultural  lands  fit  to  produce  sugar-cane  than  there 
is  in  all  the  kingdom  of  Hawaii. 

The  land  will  further  be  a  free  gift  to  the  colonists,  thereby  en- 
abling him  to  use  his  resources  to  an  extent  equal  to  three  or  four 
times  the  same  amount  expended  in  the  most  favored  portions  of 
the  United  States.  No  monopolist,  with  his  poorly  tilled  lands, 
with  small  ness  of  taxes  corresponding  to  the  largeness  of  his  hold- 
ing, will  there  be  able  to  crowd  the  settler  to  the  wall,  and  the  grim 
vision  of  a  mortgage  on  the  farm  need  never  be  known. 

The  interests  of  the  Company  and  the  interests  of  the  colonists 
will  be  identical  and  strictly  mutual;  neither  can  prosper  without 
the  other. 

PRODUCTIONS. 

The  agricultural  productions  comprise  cotton,  sugar,  coffee,  rice, 
tobacco,  indigo,  cocoa,  vanilla,  arrowroot,  maize,  wheat,  potatoes, 
bananas,  pine-apples,  star-apples,  custard -apples,  oranges,  lemons 
of  various  kinds,  limes,  shaddock,  melons,  grapes,  mango,  guava, 
fig,  and  including  European  fruits  comprise  more  than  forty  genera. 
It  is  stated  on  good  authority  that  under  the  Spanish  regime  grapes 
were  extensively  cultivated  for  the  wine  product,  but  eventually 
the  mother  country  became  jealous  on  account  of  the  quantity  and 
quality  of  the  wine  produced,  *and  an  order  was  given  by  the  home 
Governmant  to  destroy  every  grape  vine  in  the  country,  which 
edict  was  faithfully  carried  out;  since  that  time  to  the  present  a 
few  grapes  only  have  been  grown  for  pleasure. 

BANANAS  are  an  easy  and  profitable  crop,  being  more  easily  culti- 
vated than  maize,  and  producing  the  first  season  300  bunches  per 
acre,  and  subsequently  500  bunches  per  acre  per  annum;  the  price 
realized  in  San  Francisco  is  $1.50  to  $3.00  per  bunch. 

SUGAR  CANE. — This  is  the  natural  home  of  sugarcane,  which  yields 
two  or  three  crops  per  annum,  and  only  requires  planting  once  in 
ten  years.  We  have  testimony  in  this  city  that  the  sugar  produced 
polarizes  higher  than  any  sugar  in  the  world;  the  fibrous  refuse  from 
the  mills,  which  is  so  troublesome  to  handle  and  destroy  in  Louisi- 
ana, can,  immediately  it  comes  from  the  rollers,  be  utilized  as  fuel. 


8  THE    HONDURAS    COLONIZATION 

From  a  comparison  of  a  large  number  of  authorities  on  sugar  culti- 
vation, we  gather  that  a  fair  crop  should  yield  to  each  acre  two 'tons 
of  marketable  sugar  and  170  gallons  of  rum  20°  overproof.  No 
reasonable  estimate  can  be  made  of  the  yield  on  the  Company's  lands, 
as  the  agricultural  processes  are  as  rude  as  the  mining;  the  bosom 
of  mother  earth  is  simply  agitated  with  a  sharp  stick. 

Two  crops  of  corn  are  also  gathered  each  year,  and  which  forms 
the  staple  diet  of  the  people  of  the  country. 

Much  of  the  tobacco  raised  in  Honduras  is  of  superior  quality 
and  is  exported  to  Havana,  whence  it  is  sent  forth  to  the  world  as 
Havana  tobacco.  The  business  of  the  company  will  be  to  secure  for 
Honduras  tobacco  as  such  a  due  recognition  of  its  merits  in  the  mar- 
kets of  the  world. 

COCOA  is  one  of  the  richest  of  all  the  plants  requiring  the  least 
cultivation,  and  bringing  large  returns. 

COFFEE,  one  of  the  principle  staples,  at  the  lowest  estimate,  yields 
$100  per  acre;  but  very  much  depends  upon  the  quality  cultivated 
and  the  careful  preparation  for  market.  A  coffee  plantation  of  600 
acres  in  a  sister  Republic  was  sold,  a  short  time  ago,  for  $180,000. 
Such  an  estate  would  be  more  valuable  in  the  colony  in  Honduras, 
because  of  a  better  harbor,  and  fifteen  years  freedom  from  taxes  for 
those  settling  on  the  lands  of  the  company.  Lands  suitable 
for  coffee,  sold,  in  the  adjoining  Republic,  a  (few  years  ago 
for  $50  the  caballeria;*  to-day  such  lands  are  worth  $1,000,  and 
are  scarce.  As  this  plant  reaches  its  highest  perfection  in  Hon- 
duras, it  is  readily  seen  how  fine  a  property  could  be  acquired  in  a 
few  years. 

Coffee  and  cocoa,  though  only  produced  in  a  small  way  up  to  the 
present  time,  have  achieved  the  highest  reputation.  The  cultiva- 
tion of  indigo  in  the  sister  republics  is  exceedingly  profitable,  and 
has  become  a  favorite  industry,  as  also  the  gathering  of  cochineal. 

INDIGO,  one  of  the  most  important  dye  stuffs,  and  for  which 
there  is  an  unlimited  demand,  is  prepared  from  a  small  plant  some- 
thing resembling  alfafa,  and  is  cut  three  times  in  the  year;  it  is  in- 
digenous to  Honduras.  Its  preparation  is  very  simple.  Its  value 
is  about  $1  per  pound,  and  the  yield  about  300  pounds  per  acre. 

*  A  caballeria  is  about  100  acres. 


AND    COMMERCIAL    COMPANY. 

With  careful  cultivation  and  improved  methods  of  extraction,  both 
quality  and  quantity  could  be  much  improved.  Europe  alone 
consumes  about  $50,000,000  per  annum  of  indigo,  which  has 
brought  as  high  as  $2.25  per  pound. 

GUAVAS. — What  they  say  about  guavas  in  California!     We  make 
the  following  quotation  from    the  San   Diego    Union,   November* 
23d,  1883: 

"  Hon.  R.  D.  Blowers  of  Yolo  thinks  that  the  cultivation  of  the  guava  in  the 
vicinity  of  San  Diego  promises 'to  become  an  important,  and  very  profitable 
branch  of  fruit  culture.  He  thought  $500  per  acre  might  be  obtained  from 
the  guava  plants.  One  of  the  Messrs.  High,  whose  thrifty  five-acre  place  in 
the  Chollas  valley,  a  mile  east  of  town,  is  so  well  known,  says  he  thinks  this 
estimate  of  profit  is  rather  under  the  mark.  They  have  little  less  than 
a  quarter  of  an  acre  devoted  to  guava  plants,  and  from  this  small  piece  of 
ground  they  have  already  gathered  and  sold  more  than  $100  worth  of  fruit, 
besides  using  a  good  deal  in  making  jelly,  and  the  plants  will  continue  to  bear 
for  three  months  yet." 

But  in  Honduras  this  fruit  attains  a  perfection  unknown  in  the, 
Golden  State. 

BUSINESS    OF    THE    COMPANY. 

UBRAItY 

The  first  business  of  the  company  will  be  to  construct  wagon 
roads,  as  there  are  none  in  the  department  at  the  present  time;  to 
build  wharves  and  warehouses;  to  sub-divide  the  land;  to  lay  out 
towns,  and  establish  stores  of  general  merchandise;  to  erect  saw 
mills  for  the  manufacture  of  pine  lumber  for  domestic  purposes  and 
for  sale  at  Panama  and  elsewhere;  to  get  out  logs  of  fine  lumber  for 
export  to  San  Francisco  and  elsewhere;  to  purchase  cattle,  pigs, 
etc.,  and  establish  canneries,  tanneries,  etc.,  for  utilizing  the  beef, 
etc.,  hides,  tallow  and  tropical  fruit.  And  when  the  necessities  of 
the  colonists  require,  to  erect  sugar  mills,  mills  for  reducing  ores, 
tobacco  factories,  etc.  The  company  proposes  to  distribute  two- 
thirds  of  its  grant,  or  333,000  acres,  in  lots  of  200  acres  each  to 
colonists,  being  Europeans  or  of  European  descent,  besides  donating 
town-lands  in  lots  proportionate  in  number  to  the  colonist's  family, 
the  only  condition  being  occupation  of  premises  for  five  years.  One- 
third  of  said  grant,  or  166,000  acres,  will  be  offered  for  sale  in  lots  to 
suit,  for  cash  or  payment  in  installments;  said  purchases  will  be 
unconditional.  Also  balance  of  10,000  acres  of  town-lands  on  the 
same  terms.  Each  colonist  must  become  a  shareholder  and  own 


10  THE    HONDURAS    COLONIZATION 

not  less  than  $50  worth  of  stock,  governed  by  the  market  price 
thereof;  which  stock  will  be  unassessable,  and  which  will  entitle 
the  holder  to  participate  in  all  the  profits  realized  in  every 
branch  of  the  enterprise. 

The  following  articles  are  admitted  free  of  duty  at  San  Francisco, 
.California:  Bananas,  pine-apples,  cocoa,  coffee,  dye  woods,  skins 
(dry,  salted  or  pickled),  soap  stock,  albumen,  etc.,  and  the  duties 
on  the  other  products  are  as  follows:  Limes  20%  ad  v.;  oranges, 
$1  60  per  1000;  sugar,  1  4-1  Oc  per  Ib;  tallow,  Ic  per  Ib;  bacon 
and  hams,  2c  per  Ib. 

THE    AUTHORITIES    QUOTED 

In  this  resume  are  Professor  6.  Davidson,  in  charge  of  the  coast 
survey  on  the  Pacific  coast,  U.  S. 

The  chart  of  Fonseca  Bay,  with  soundings,  issued  recently  by  the 
British  government. 

An  interesting  work  on  Honduras,  by  E.  G.  Squires,  formerly 
U.  S.  representative  at  Honduras  for  about  twenty  years. 

Captain  Merry,  merchant  of  this  city,  formerly  a  resident  of  the 
adjoining  State  of  Nicaragua. 

The  Encyclopedia  Britannica  and  Chambers'  Encyclopedia. 

Imray's  West  Coast  of  North  America. 

John  Connor,  Esq.,  for  nearly  thirty  years  a  resident  of  Hon- 
duras, Director  of  Government  Mint,  and  largely  interested  in 
mines  on  the  Pacific  Slope. 

Dr.  M.  A.  Soto,  ex-President,  and  many  others. 


ADDENDA. 


The  real  estate  held  by  the  company  for  sale  is  equal  to  one  town- 
lot  and  twenty -five  acres  of  agricultural  land  for  each  parcel  of  fif- 
teen shares. 

The  payment  on  fifteen  shares  of  the  second  series  is  on  applica- 
tion $3  75,  and  on  the  1st  of  each  following  month  $1.87J  cents  for 
eighteen  months;  total  payments,  $37  50. 

The  payments  being  completed,  fifteen  shares  of  unassessable 
stock  will  be  issued  on  demand. 

It  is  expected  that  within  two  years  eacb  town-lot  will  be  worth 
$50,  and  each  acre  of  farming  land  $5,  making  the  total  value  real- 
ized for  the  fifteen  share  interest,  from  sales  at  these  figures, 
$175.00.  This  money  will  be  used  partly  in  the  erection  of  factor- 
ies, etc.,  the  whole  of  which  expenditures  will  be  reproductive  in 
a  large  degree,  and  partly  used  also  in  the  payment  of  'dividends. 

Dividends  are  only  paid  on  stock  issued. 

No  prior  payments  are  forfeited  on  account  of  non-payment  of 
installments  due.  Full  paid  up  stock  is  issued  on  demand  for  the 
amounts  already  paid  in. 

Particular  attention  is  requested  to  these  two  principles  of   non 
forfeiture  and  non-assessment. 

The  Directors  may  order  the  sale  of  any  series  of  stock  to  be 
suspended  on  account  of  appreciation  in  the  market  value,  and 
may  order  any  other  series  to  be  placed  on  the  market  in  lieu 
thereof,  or  may  order  stock  to  be  sold  only  for  cash  in  the  usual 
way. 

Colonists  must  own  not  less  than  $50.  worth  of  stock,  governed 
by  the  market  price  thereof. 


SPECIAL  HINTS  TO  COLONISTS. 


The  amount  of  capital  a  colonist  will  require  to  start  a  sugar, 
coffee,  indigo,  or  other  plantation,  or  to  engage  in  any  other  branch 
of  industry  very  much  depends  on  the  scale  on  which  he  proposes  to 
operate.  A  small  plantation  or  farm  may  be  commenced  and 
stocked  at  from  $500  to  $1000  including  a  small,  ordinary  house. 
A  frugal  and  industrious  family  can  obtain  an  easier  and  better  sup- 
port in  Honduras  on  $1000  than  they  can  in  any  part  of  the  United 
States  on  $5000.  The  colonist  must  go  prepared  to  take  care  of 
himself  for  the  first  year.  He  should  prepare  himself  with  a  supply 
of  blankets,  light  flannel  suits,  sheetings,  ticking,  and  sundry 
articles,  etc.,  etc. 

The  cost  of  passage  from  San  Francisco  is  $90.00  cabin  and  $45.00 
steerage,  and  in  companies  of  thirty,  $75.00  cabin  and  $40.00  steer- 
age. Children  under  twelve,  half  price.  Freight  and  provisions 
$15.00  per  ton  or  measurement  of  forty  feet  space. 

These  rates  are  only  allowed  to  colonists  who  hold  the  company's 
certificate  of  subscription  of  stock  to  the  extent  of  $50.00,  and 
intend  to  settle  on  the  company's  lands,  which  amount  is  more  than 
saved  in  this  special  reduction  of  rates.  The  regular  rates  being 
$125  cabin  and  $62.50  steerage,  and  on  freight  $20.00  per  ton. 

The  proper  time  to  go  down  will  be  the  15th  of  February,  March 
or  April,  as  the  rainy  season  begins  in  June  and  continues  until 
October.  "  First  come  first  served."  Those  who  may  be  numbered 
among  the  first  colonists  will  hav^  the  first  choice  of  the  lands.  Not 
more  than  thirty  will  be  accepted  in  each  of  the  above  named 
months.  As  soon  as  you  make  up  your  mind,  write  to  the  Secre- 
tary and  have  your  name  entered  on  the  list  and  subscribe  for  $50 
worth  of  stock  in  the  series  on  the  market,  and  pay  down  ten  per 
cent.,  which  will  secure  your  place  on  the  list. 

The  colonists  will  enjoy  exemption  from  export  and  import 
duties  by  having  their  effects  pass  through  the  company's  hands; 
otherwise  they  lose  this  advantage  thus  offered  by  the  company. 

It  is  the  intention  of  the  company  to  immediately  erect  a  mill  for 
the  manufacture  of  lumber  to  supply  the  colonists  and  for  export, 
thus  giving  employment  to  a  number. 


BY-LAWS 

OF    THE 

Honduras  Colonization  and  Commercial  Company. 


AKTICLE  I. 

The  principal  office  of  the  Company  shall  be  at  San  Francisco, 
California,  with  a  branch  office  in  Honduras. 

AETICLE   II. 

The  capital  stock  of  the  company  shall  be  $1,000,000,  divided 
into  100,000  shares  of  the  par  value  of  $10  each. 

AETICLE   III. 

The  number  of  Directors  shall  be  seven,  who  shall  hold  office  for 
one  year.  Vacancies  may  be  filled  at  any  regular  meeting  by  a 
majority  vote  of  the  remaining  Directors,  from  stockholders,  duly 
qualified. 

AETICLE   IV. 

The  annual  meeting  of  the  Company  shall  be  held  at  its  princi- 
cipal  business  office  in  San  Francisco  on  the  first  Tuesday  in  De- 
cember in  each  year  between  the  hours  of  7  and  9  o'clock  p.  M. 

AETICLE  V. 

Special  meetings  of  the  stockholders  shall  be  called  by  the  Presi- 
dent at  the  request  of  stockholders  representing  one-fourth  of 
the  capital  stock,  upon  notice  of  five  days,  stating  the  time,  place 
and 'object  of  such  meeting.  No  business  shall  be  transacted  at 
such  special  meeting  except  the  particular  business  for  which  it 
shall  be  called.  Stockholders  representing  one-fourth  of  the  stock 
shall  be  necessary  to  constitute  a  quorum.  Stockholders  may  vote 
by  proxy. 

AETICLE  VI. 

SECTION  1.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  be  elected  at  the  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  shareholders. 


14  THE    HONDURAS    COLONIZATION 

SEC.  2.  The  Board  of  Directors  shall  elect  from  their  number  a 
President,  Vice-President,  Treasurer  and  Secretary,  who  shall  hold 
office  for  the  following  year.  They  shall  appoint  a  General  Mana- 
ger for  Honduras  and  an  Engineer,  who  shall  be  Land  Agent. 

SEC.  3.  The  officers  of  the  Company  shall  be  a  President,  Vice- 
President,  Secretary  and  Treasurer. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

SECTION  1.  The  duty  of  the  President  shall  be,  to  preside  at  all 
meetings  of  the  Board  of  Directors  or  stockholders,  to  preserve 
order,  call  special  meetings,  when  required,  sign  certificates  of 
stock,  deeds,  warrants  and  contracts,  when  required  by  the  Board 
of  Directors,  and  perform  all  other  duties  incident  to  this  office. 

SEC.  2.  The  Vice-President  shall  assist  the  President,  and  in 
his  absence,  perform  all  the  duties  and  be  invested  with  all  the 
powers  of  the  President. 

SEC.  3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Secretary  to  keep  minutes 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  Board  of  Directors  and  of  the  stock- 
holders, sign  all  warrants  on  the  treasury,  and  attest  all  legal  doc- 
uments and  business  transactions  of  the  Company,  have  charge  of 
the  corporate  seal,  be  the  general  bookkeeper  and  accountant  for 
the  Company,  collect  all  moneys  due,  giving  a  receipt  therefor,  and 
pay  the  same  over  to  the  Treasurer  taking  his  receipt,  and  to  make 
a  record  thereof  in  the  books  of  the  Company,  sign  all  certificates  of 
capital  stock,  and  keep  a  regular  register  of  every  certificate  thereof 
issued,  showing  the  number  of  the  same,  the  name  and  address  of 
the  party  to  whom  issued,  and  the  number  of  shares  held  thereof. 
On  the  transfer  and  surrender  of  any  certificate  of  capital  stock,  he 
shall  endorse  thereon  the  date  of  transfer  and  the  name  of  the 
party  to  whom  the  same,  or  any  part  thereof,  has  been  transferred, 
mark  said  certificate  cancelled,  note  the  cancellation  and  date 
thereof  on  the  register,  and  paste  it  in  the  ordinary  certificate  book 
on  the  margin,  from  which  it  was  originally  taken.  (Books  for 
the  transfer  of  stock  shall  be  closed  five  days  prior  to  the  annual 
meeting. )  To  see  that  the  officers  make  out  their  bonds  and  file 
the  same  in  the  office  of  the  Company,  and  attend  to  all  other 
duties  that  the  Board  of  Directors  may  require. 

SEC.  4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Treasurer  to  deposit  all 
moneys,  mortgages,  and  other  securities  belonging  to  the  Company 


AND    COMMERCIAL    COMPANY.  15 

in  some  leading  bank  of  San  Francisco,  in  the  name  of  the  Hon- 
duras Colonization  and  Commercial  Company;  he  shall  not  make 
any  payment  of  money  except  on  warrant  drawn  by  the  President 
and  Secretary,  and  endorsed  by  himself.  He  shall  make  a  weekly 
report  of  his  bank  deposits  to  the  Secretary,  and  a  full  statement 
of  his  cash  account  at  each  monthly  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Directors.  He  shall  give  a  satisfactory  bond  for  the  faithful  per- 
formance of  his  duties,  with  two  sureties. 

SEC.  5.  The  General  Manager  shall  reside  in  Honduras  and  have 
charge  of  the  Company's  business,  carry  out  the  plans  of  the 
Directorate,  and  make  a  monthly  report  of  his  acts  to  the  head- 
office. 

SEC.  6.  The  Engineer  shall  be  the  Company's  land  agent3  he 
shall  make  the  surveys,  have  charge  of  the  Company's  lands  in  the 
State  of  Honduras,  and  report  his  acts  to  the  head-office  each 
month . 

AKTICLE    VIII. 

The  Board  of  Directors  shall  meet  on,  the  first  Tuesday  of  each 
month  at  the  office  of  the  Company.  Three  Directors  shall  con- 
stitute a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business.  Special  meetings 
may  be  called  by  the  President. 

AKTICLE   IX. 

The  Board  of  Directors  shall  assign  the  duties  of  its  officers; 
exact  bonds  for  the  faithful  discharge  thereof,  when  necessary ;  fix 
their  compensation,  and  shall  have  the  power  to  discharge  them 
upon  proof  of  their  incompetency,  innattention  to  duties  or  malfeas- 
ance in  office. 

AKTICLE  X. 

The  stockholders  at  their  annual  meeting  of  each  year  shall  ap- 
point three  of  their  number  a  Committee  to  examine  the  books  of 
the  Secretary,  Treasurer,  and  other  officers,  together  with  all 
vouchers  and  other  securities;  to  inquire  into  the  financial  condition 
of  the  Company,  and  submit  a  written  report  of  their  labors  to  the 
Board  of  Directors  within  one  month  thereafter. 

ARTICLE  XI. 

These  By-Laws  may  be  altered  or  amended  at  any  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  Company,  or  at  any  special  meeting  called  for  that 
purpose,  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  subscribed  stock. 


Colonization!  Commercial  Company. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  Board 
of  Directors  December  5th,  1883: 

Resolved,  That  the  stock  of  the  Company  may  be 
offered  in  series,  and  the  payments  may  be  made  in 
cash  or  installments.  Subscribers  who  are  three 
months'  delinquent  in  the  payment  of  their  install- 
ments shall  have  their  accounts  closed,  and  paid  up 
stock  in  the  same  series  shall  be  allotted  them  in  pro- 
portion to  the  payment  made. 

Series  No.  One  of  25  certificates,  each  2000  shares, 
at  $2. 00  per  share — subscribed, 

The  following  series  are  now  on  sale,  the  pay- 
ments upon  each  series  will  be  governed  by  this  table. 
When  one  series  is  exhausted  the  next  series  will  be 
placed  on  sale  unless  otherwise  ordered. 


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The  Stock  of  this  Company  is  not  'Assessable. 


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--WC-- 


WEST  88    FRO  MOREEN  W!  CM 


